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[Urinary problems and prostate-specific antigen in a Norwegian normal population]
I A Eide1, A Angelsen, G B Øverland
1Institutt for abdominale fag, medisinske fakultet, Norges teknisk-naturvitenskaplige, universitet, 7005 Trondheim.
Summary
Elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels can indicate prostate disease, but urinary symptoms alone are unreliable indicators. Prostate cancer screening requires careful consideration of PSA, prostate volume, and age.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a key biomarker in diagnosing prostate diseases.
- Understanding PSA distribution in the general population is essential for accurate interpretation.
Purpose:
- To investigate the distribution of PSA values in an unselected male population.
- To analyze the relationship between PSA levels, urinary symptoms, age, and prostate volume.
Summary:
- 14% of 609 men had PSA levels ≥ 4.0 ng/ml, with prostate cancer confirmed in 16% of this subgroup.
- Higher PSA levels were associated with smaller prostate volumes (≤ 40 cm³) and severe urinary symptoms, though symptoms were poor predictors.
- Age did not independently correlate with PSA levels when prostate volume was considered.
Impact:
- Absence of urinary symptoms does not rule out elevated PSA or prostate cancer.
- While PSA ≥ 10.0 ng/ml strongly suggests cancer, benign prostatic enlargement can also elevate PSA.
- This study refines the interpretation of PSA testing in clinical practice and prostate cancer screening.